Metal flume



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6 24 3 4 4 3 l 5 II l 5 1 FIFO 5' 3 5 V 6 22 20 A 1 INVENTOR. i RoY M. Sow-:12 24 I a 1 BY I 3 I l Iii 7 74. ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL FLUMIE Roy M. Soper, Kansas City, Mo.

Application November 26, 1937, Serial No. 176,533

4 Claims.

This invention relates to semicircular metal fiumes for conveying water and more particularly to improved methods of supporting the sections forming the flume, and connecting and'sealing the connections of the sections against leakage. This invention further relates to means to prevent thewater from being splashed and blown out of the fiume.

semicircular metal fiumes are old, but the connections of the sections and the method of sealing against leakage have been complicated and in some constructions very obstructive to the flow of water. The supports of the connections of main sections havenot been rigidly supported in a true semicircular form so as to insure a perfect seal against leakage, and water has been lost by being splashed and blown from the fiume.

The present invention has provided, an improved flume with an internal surface free and unobstructed to the flow of Water, inexpensive and efficient seals against leakage at the connections of the sections, a rigid and true semicircular support at the connection of 'all main sections of the flume, and an antisplash flange,

along each open edge of the fiume to prevent water from being splashed and blown from'the fiume. The intermediate flume sections have been provided with means to develope thebottom steel tension, and prevent sagging at the connections, .and to prevent creeping of the packing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flume construction that is easily made and held in a rigid true semicircular shape to retain the intended full capacity of the flume. The ends of the fiumes are turned back and lapped over the outside of the flume sheet when in a flat shape and then formed to the semicircular shape. This method is also used in forming the intermediate bands that support the intermediate sections of fiumes and is a very simple, economical and rigid construction. The frame work that supports the fiume is welded into a metal truss that prevents undue distortion to the shape of the flume and assures full calculated capacity. The distortion of most fiumes being caused by excessive tension on the bolts to insure sealed joints.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed. out in the appended claims, the accompanying drawings illustrating a form of the improved flume that is manufactured and marketed with satisfaction to the manufacturer and consumers.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of onemain section of the improved flume and a fragmentary View of an adjoining main section at each end '5 thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the flume on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the flume on line 3'-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the fiume.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. l is illustrated one main section of the improved flume, comprising end sections I, intermediate section 2, and fragmentary views of adjacent endsections I. It will be understood that the fiume comprises a succession and repetition of main sections, and that the number of intermediate sections in each main section will always depend on the distance between supports particularly the size of the flume, and the thickness of the metal employed to form the flume.

All the main sections of the flume comprising end sections I and intermediate section 2 are formed in semicircular shape as shown, and both upwardly disposed edges .are turned inwardly in a meeting direction approximately in the direction of the radial axis of the semicircular shape forming the horizontally disposed flanges 3, which terminate in the downwardly disposed flanges 4. The flanges} and 4 form a continuous antisplash flange along each unwardly disposed edge of the fiume. from end to end thereof.

The adjoining ends of all the sections I and 2 are secured by the tie plates 5 resting on the flanges 3 and the tie bars 6 resting on the tie plates, the bolts 1 passing through the flanges 4o 3 and the tie plates, and the bolts 8 passing through the flanges 3 the tie plate 5 and the tie bar 6, the bolts fitting loosely according tocommon practice in the flanges 3 the tie plates 5 and the tie bars 6 being suflicient for expansion and 5 contraction.

The ends 9 of the main sections, comprising end sections I and intermediate section 2, rest on the compressible packingv H] on the main tie band II. The tie band II is Welded integral 5 with the supporting frame comprising horizontal portion l2, vertical portions I 3, horizontal portion l4 and angular brace portions l5, and the horizontal portion l4 and the tie band II are welded together at l6, so that the frame Supports the flume sections I' rigidly in a semicircular position preventing distortion of the flume when the band II is tightened. The supporting frame rests on the foundation timber I1 and is secured thereto by the bolts I8 passing through the horizontal portion I4 of the frame and through the timber.

The draw bolts I9 connect the draw band II with the tie plates 5 and tie bar 6 and bind the ends 9 of the flume sections I tightly upon the packing I9 and draw band II so that the flume sections are held rigidly in place as shown and perfectly sealed against leakage of water between the ends 9 of the main sections.

The abutting ends 20 of the flume sections I and 2 all of which are duplicate are folded outwardly and around the outer side of the semicircular shape of the sections as shown particularly in Fig. 5 forming the oppositely disposed shoulders H. The intermediate draw bands 22 are folded as also shown in Fig. 5 forming the inwardly facing shoulders 23, and the draw bands 22 are placed around the flume sections as shown with the outwardly disposed shoulders 2| just filling the distance between the inwardly dis posed shoulders 23, the compressible packing being arranged between the bands and the flume sections. i

The draw bolts 24 shown Welded to the bands 22 pass upwardly through the tie plates 5 and tie bars 5 thus drawing the bands tightly upon the packing, the shoulders 2| and 23 preventing the flume sections I and 2 from spreading apart and sagging where connected. 7

The integrally welded supporting frame comprising the main tie band II, short horizontal portions I2, vertical portions I3, long horizontal base portion I4, angular braces I5 and weld IS, in connection with the tie plates 5, tie bar 6 and bolts binding the parts together, form a rigid eflicient and inexpensive support, tie and seal for the connection of the main sections of the flume.

The construction just described of the supporting frame provides for the abutting connection of the main sections of the flume and the employ-' ment of flat packing, and insures a dependable flume with free and unobstructed joints so the water can flow freely therein.

The intermediate connections are so con structed that flat packing is employed, the shoulders 2I and 23 secure the packing in place against slippage from expansion and contraction, and sagging of the sections at the intermediate connections is prevented except the deflection due to compression and tension. The intermediate connection of sections comprises abutting sections and there is no obstruction to the flow of water.

The anti-splash flange prevents loss of water from splashing out and from being blown out of the flume.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A sheet metal flume of semicircular shape and comprising longitudinally disposed abutting flange along each longitudinal edge of each section, said sections connected to tie plates resting on said flanges, a transversely disposed tie bar connecting each pair of tie plates, a flat compressible packing overlapping the ends of each pair of abutting sections, a draw band around the outwardly facing side of said packing, and bolts connected to said draw bands and passing upwardly through said tie plates and binding said bands and said packing to said sections.

2. A semicircular flume comprising end sections and intermediate sections, said end sections abutting, a flat compressible packing overlapping the ends of said abutting sections, a draw band outside of said packing, a frame securing said draw band rigidly in a semicircular shape, and bolts binding said sections to said compressible packing and said draw band.

3. A semicircular flume comprising 'end sections and intermediate sections, said intermediate sections abutting and external shoulders formed on said intermediate sections, said shoulders facing from the abutting ends of said sections, a fiat compressible packing arranged immediately below said 'fiume sections between'said shoulders, and a draw band with internal facing shoulders meshing over said external shoulders and binding said packing to said flume sections.

4. A semicircular flume comprising end sections and intermediate sections, said end sections connected by a supporting frame with a horizontal portion resting on the usual foundation, said frame rising upwardly from said horizontal portion on each'side of said flume sections and then forming a semicircular shaped draw band, said draw band connecting to the horizontal portion at the low extremity thereof, compressible packing on said draw band, and draw bolts arranged to bind said flume sections eightly to said frame with the packing arranged there between.

ROY M. SOPER.

sections provided with an internally disposed 

